Description

Colonialism and Violence in Nigeria looks closely at the conditions that created a legacy of violence in Nigeria. Toyin Falola examines violence as a tool of domination and resistance, however unequally applied, to get to the heart of why Nigeria has not built a successful democracy. Falola’s analysis centers on two phases of Nigerian history: the last quarter of the 19th century, when linkages between violence and domination were part of the British conquest; and the first half of the 20th century, which was characterized by violent rebellion and the development of a national political consciousness. This important book emphasizes the patterns that have been formed and focuses on how violence and instability have influenced Nigeria today.

Author Bio

Toyin Falola is University Distinguished Teaching Professor at The University of Texas at Austin. He is editor (with Matt D. Childs) of The Yoruba Diaspora in the Atlantic World (IUP, 2005); (with Kevin D. Roberts) of The Atlantic World: 1450–2000 (IUP, 2008); and (with Joel E. Tishken and Akíntúndé Akínyemí) of Sàngó in Africa and the African Diaspora (IUP, 2009).

Reviews

“This important and synthetic narrative emphasizes the patterns that have been formed and focuses on how violence and instability have influenced Nigeria today. Falola examines violence as a tool of domination and resistance, however unequally applied, to get to the heart of why Nigeria has not built a successful democracy. ”

“Colonial violence treated from the point of view of the African victims/colonized, not from the self-serving perspective of European/British conquerors and colonizers.”
— Felix Ekechi, Kent State University

“Well-researched, well-written with its richly textured and nuanced analysis, it is the first study to attempt a general and cohesive overview of the connections between violence and imperialism in colonial Nigeria.”
— Funso Afolayan, University of New Hampshire

“Toyin Falola has worked extensively on both the impact of colonial rule and the role of violence in structuring social relations in Nigeria, and [this book] clearly stands at the intersection of two significant areas of his research.... [A] very welcome addition to the literature on Nigeria.2010, Volume 51”
— The Journal of African History

“Overall, this book brings a refreshing angle to a familiar subject. . . . The framework of violence particularly allows us to see both the power and limitations of the colonial state and in so doing, marks an important contribution to the broader scholarship on British imperialism in Africa. December 2010”
— American Historical Review

“Colonialism and Violence in Nigeria is an indispensable resource for lecturers, and will endure as a useful synthesis for researchers and devotees of Nigerian history. Vol. 43, no. 2, 2010”
— Intl. Journal of African Historical Studies

“This is an important topic, and it would take a scholar of Falola's prodigious range to do it justice. Indeed, the volume he has produced provides a useful and readable overview to the problem. July, 2010”
— H-Net Reviews